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Declan
Pronounced DEK-lan /ˈdɛk.lən/High
Meaning: From the Irish saint's name Deaglan, of uncertain meaning, variously read 'full of goodness' and 'man of prayer'; overwhelmingly a boys' name; here for girls; flaggedLow
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Declan comes from the Irish saint's name Deaglan, of uncertain meaning, variously read 'full of goodness' and 'man of prayer' (St. Declan of Ardmore). It is overwhelmingly a boys' name; here it is used for a girl (slug distinguished; we flag the cross-sex use). A crisp, classic name (said 'DEK-lan').
In the U.S. it is overwhelmingly a boys' name. Rare for girls, full-of-goodness at the root, and classic.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Declan mean?
Declan is from the Irish saint Deaglan, variously 'full of goodness' and 'man of prayer'; overwhelmingly a boys' name, used here for a girl.
How do you pronounce Declan?
It's said DEK-lan /ˈdɛk.lən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Declan a boy or girl name?
Declan is overwhelmingly a boys' name; this page covers its rarer use as a girl's name.
How popular is Declan?
Declan is very rare as a girl's name in the U.S.